Ryan is a strategic leader with 15 years of experience in private sector and market systems development working across strategic consulting, philanthropy, and programme design/implementation.

Ryan has extensive work experience across sub-Saharan Africa with thematic experience in agricultural market systems, WASH, as well as trade and investment.

Early in his career, Ryan founded and scaled a successful strategy consulting firm, overseeing business development, senior client management, and multi-country project execution across Africa. During this time, he oversaw successful completion of 30+ assignments with donors, impact investors, and implementers focused on value chain diagnostics, market assessments, capacity building, developing MEL systems, desk research, and case studies.

Ryan has advised multi-million-dollar private sector development programming across sub-Saharan Africa, including the USAID-funded Market Systems & Partnerships Activity ($80M), the FCDO-funded Kenya Market Assistance Programme (£22M), the FCDO-funded Sierra Leone Opportunities for Business Action (£10M), the USAID-funded Livelihoods and Enterprises for Agricultural Development in Uganda ($30M), and the Mastercard Foundation-funded Driving Youth-Led New Agribusiness and Microenterprise in Uganda project ($25M).

Ryan has led research and external engagement function for a large (150+ staff) foundation, Gatsby Africa, setting strategy and overseeing Gatsby’s research agenda and representing the foundation at events and conferences. Ryan has also provided strategic leadership to an $80M global flagship private sector development initiative, overseeing its market systems development and social inclusion workstreams as well as $12M in technical assistance, research, and partnerships funding.